'White House Down,' 'World War Z': The apocalypse on screen

Caption'White House Down'

Columbia Pictures

Crisis conditions: A group of paramilitary invaders take over the White House while Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) happens to be on a White House tour. The journey: As the nation falls into chaos, Cale must protect the President of the United States (Jamie Foxx) and his daughter....

Crisis conditions: A group of paramilitary invaders take over the White House while Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) happens to be on a White House tour. The journey: As the nation falls into chaos, Cale must protect the President of the United States (Jamie Foxx) and his daughter.... (Columbia Pictures)

Crisis conditions: A record-breaking Los Angeles earthquake leaves a group of Hollywood's A-listers pitted against each other for survival amidst a generous number of explosions and F-bombs. The journey: After encounters with demons, the group realizes the rapture has happened and they've been...

Crisis conditions: A record-breaking Los Angeles earthquake leaves a group of Hollywood's A-listers pitted against each other for survival amidst a generous number of explosions and F-bombs. The journey: After encounters with demons, the group realizes the rapture has happened and they've been...

Crisis conditions: Zombies are taking over the world. And they are not shambling zombies. These suckers can run. The journey: United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to...

Crisis conditions: Zombies are taking over the world. And they are not shambling zombies. These suckers can run. The journey: United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to... (Paramount Pictures)

When: About 1,000 years from now Where: A new world called Nova Prime The journey: Cypher and his son Kitai, residents of Nova Prime, accidentally land on Earth, which has been abandoned for a thousand years. The outcome: The two survive Earth's hostile conditions and temperamental climate...

When: About 1,000 years from now Where: A new world called Nova Prime The journey: Cypher and his son Kitai, residents of Nova Prime, accidentally land on Earth, which has been abandoned for a thousand years. The outcome: The two survive Earth's hostile conditions and temperamental climate... (Courtesy of Columbia Pictures. / HANDOUT)

Crisis conditions: A holy war has left most of Earth ravaged, waterless and, for some reason, illiterate. The hero's journey: A ruthless nomad traverses west unhindered by his blindness, driven by a voice that tells him to deliver a strange book to its haven on the coast. Weapon(s) of choice:...

Crisis conditions: A holy war has left most of Earth ravaged, waterless and, for some reason, illiterate. The hero's journey: A ruthless nomad traverses west unhindered by his blindness, driven by a voice that tells him to deliver a strange book to its haven on the coast. Weapon(s) of choice:... (David Lee / Alcon Entertainment)